A trip in November of 2019 lead me to discover the gems of Southern Indiana. Corydon, which was the capitol of Indiana until 1825, is one of the most historically rich and welcoming towns I’ve had the pleasure of visiting. Restaurants, statues, and antique shops line the streets, giving me a similar feeling that my hometown, Pendleton, once gave to me. “Don’t look up anything to do in the downtown area before we get there,” Anthony told me. He was holding something out on me…something he didn’t want me to ruin before we arrived…Butt Drugs.
Butt Drugs, a pharmacy and ice cream parlor with a self-aware sense of humor, has been a Corydon staple since it was established in 1952. No, I did not expect it. Yes, Anthony was pleased with my reaction to the surprise. We went in, checked it out, and sat at the parlor bar top. The shake he got and the sundae I got were absolutely delicious (and who doesn’t like ice cream for breakfast?). To top it all off, Butt Drugs still sells coffee (and fountain drinks) for 35 cents. Before we headed to our next adventure, the purchase of a magnetic bottle opener with “I Love Butt Drugs” on it was absolutely necessary.
Downtown also offers sort of hole-in-the-wall antique and unique shopping experience for those willing to browse not only for wacky finds, but for the actual stores as well. Some are nestled upstairs and are only found by following handmade signs on printer paper, but they are worth the scavenger hunt. A vintage teapot here, a decorative drink shaker, a few Christmas presents for family, and nearly impossible puzzles were some of the thrifts that made it home with us after a couple of hours of browsing. We were ready to eat (and drink, duh) by this point.
One of the places that had caught our eye while beginning our bargaining adventures was a pub called Beaver Street Brick Oven and Grill. The restaurant and bar areas are separated by a common way for the service staff, which we did not know before entering the dining room area. After lunch, we were still feeling like staying a little longer, so Anthony and I decided to move to the bar for another drink or two (and hoping for less judgement about our day-drinking). Lucky for us, another couple was partaking as well, so we sat down and made ourselves comfortable. The service was friendly and fast, and food and drinks were delicious.
One of the places that had caught our eye while beginning our bargaining adventures was a pub called Beaver Street Brick Oven and Grill. The restaurant and bar areas are separated by a common way for the service staff, which we did not know before entering the dining room area. After lunch, we were still feeling like staying a little longer, so Anthony and I decided to move to the bar for another drink or two (and hoping for less judgement about our day-drinking). Lucky for us, another couple was partaking as well, so we sat down and made ourselves comfortable. The service was friendly and fast, and food and drinks were delicious.
The biggest reason we decided to make this weekend trip was to visit one of Southern Indiana’s biggest attractions: Marengo Cave. First discovered by two children in 1883, Marengo Cave has been hosting tours since shortly after discovery. Covering a span of about 5 miles, there is a lot to see, and we wanted to see all we could. There are two different tours to chose from: Dripstone Trail and Crystal Palace. For the more adventurous ones (us), you could combine both tours for a slightly discounted price.
First was the Dripstone Trail which was an hour filled with hugely impressive stalagmites and stalactites, fragile soda straws, low ceilings, and a ceiling you could throw your loose change at (appropriately called the Penny Ceiling). The Crystal Palace was a more intimate tour, with just a couple others besides ourselves and the tour guide. Even though this one was about half the time of the first, it was just as breathtaking. A reflective lake at the very beginning of the tour looks miles deep, but is shallow in reality. Formations in this tour were obviously cut by waterflow, and the condensation building up on the walls and ourselves was chilling and refreshing. Combination tickets for adults are around $30 each, which is great considering how much time you get to spend inside of the cave. Marengo Cave also offers more intense spelunking, like nights in the cave and deeper exploration.
Corydon is a perfect weekend getaway without draining your travel finances. Caving, shopping, antiquing, drinking, exploring, and learning about a city we once called our capitol makes for a memorable adventure, and could turn into an annual trip for you and yours.